Mandarin Chinese

Meet Lan in the arrivals hall after a summer away: say you're back, say long time no see, hear that you've got thinner, say you missed everyone, say you're staying a year, and hear welcome home.

Sit in Teacher Lu's class on the first morning: introduce yourself, say which country you come from, hear where your classmates come from, say why you are learning Chinese, and ask someone to say it again.

Go through the student health check: say you haven't eaten, hear that blood has to be drawn first, say you're a bit scared, give your height in metres, and hear that you're in good health.

Apply for your residence permit at the exit and entry hall: say what you have come to get, say which visa you have, hand over your photos, sign your name, and hear how many working days you will have to wait.

Race for the morning bus from the Chen kitchen: hear that it's time to get up, say you're nearly late, say there's no time for breakfast, take two buns for the bus, and say what time you'll be back.

Do your homework at the Chen kitchen table with Lan looking over your shoulder: say you're writing characters, say whether you can read one, say it's too hard, say you can't remember it, and agree to write ten a day.

Eat lunch in the university canteen with Min-ji and Giulia: suggest eating together, ask where the canteen is, meet a new classmate, ask what a dish is, say you can or can't get used to it, and say that although it's spicy, it's delicious.

Buy mooncakes with Lan before Mid-Autumn: say the festival is nearly here, ask what filling, hear that egg yolk and lotus paste is the best, say you've never had it, settle on two boxes, and say one is a present for Grandpa and Grandma.

Sit on the hill above the village at Mid-Autumn with the Chen family: wish them a happy Mid-Autumn, say the moon is so round, hear that people reunite, say whether you miss home, and say that here is home too.

Plan the National Day week with Lan: say how many days off there are, ask what she plans to do, say you plan to go and see the osmanthus, say it's so fragrant, and say there are people everywhere.

A cool morning in the tea garden with Master Chen: hear that it has turned cool, ask why the bushes are pruned in autumn, and hear that next year's tea will be even better.

Double Eleven at Lan's tiny tea shop: hear that she is worked to death, ask what Double Eleven is, hear that everything online is discounted, say twenty percent off and three hundred orders, and share the packing.

The first cold night in the Chens' kitchen: ask why it is so cold indoors, hear that southern winters have no heating, say it is even colder inside than out, and put on a few more layers.

Looking for a heater with Lan on a cold Saturday: hear that the shop is sold out, say you can't get one anywhere, hear that you can get one online, ask how many days, and hear that delivery is tomorrow.

Teacher Lu hands back the first exam: say you're nervous, hear don't be nervous, ask how you did, hear eighty-five, and go for a coffee with Min-ji.

Christmas Eve at Lan's shop, with Giulia: say Merry Christmas, hear why apples are given on Christmas Eve, hear that Lan has presents ready for you both, and say you are moved.

Snow over West Lake on a Sunday morning: say it's snowing, say the snow on the Broken Bridge is the most beautiful, tell Lan you like her, hear that she has known for ages, and agree to tell no one yet.

The last day of class before the winter break, with Dmitri: hear that the break is almost here, say you're not going home, hear an invitation to Harbin, say you'd love to but can't, and say New Year is coming and you're spending it in the village.

New Year's Eve at the Chens' table: hear the names of the dishes and their puns, ask why there are no firecrackers, hear because of the fire risk, so none, take a red envelope and wish a happy New Year.

New Year's morning in the Chens' courtyard: pay your New Year call, hear prosperity to you, taste rice wine made at home, and hear Master Chen say one sentence about the day someone left.

Spend the Lantern Festival evening at Auntie Ma's with Lan: wish her a happy festival, ask what sweet rice balls are, choose the sesame ones, and say that once the festival is past, the New Year is over.

Stand with Master Chen at the first buds of the year: say the bushes are budding, ask when you can pick, hear in another ten days, and follow his orders with the word that puts the thing first.

Meet Little Wu and Auntie Liu at the gate for the harvest: hear that you're still here, say it's been a year, hear that your Chinese has improved, and dodge the question about a girlfriend.

Take your place at a wok of your own for the second-grade leaves: hear which leaves are yours, ask whether you fry them yourself, ask if the temperature is enough, keep your hands moving, and hear much better than last year.

Come into class late in the middle of the harvest: say sorry, you're late, give the reason, hear that you look tired, say you didn't sleep well, and hear class first, then tea.

Serve your own tea to Teacher Song on his yearly visit for the first tea: hear that it was fried by you, hear there's progress, hear the old price, say it can't be cheaper, and hear him buy one jin more.

Climb to the family grave with Master Chen and Lan at Ching Ming: ask whose grave it is, hear about a great-grandfather who fried tea his whole life, pour him a cup, bow, and make a promise of your own.

Hear from Missus Wang that Master Chen is going to take you as his apprentice: ask when, hear on Grain Rain day, say you're so happy, and learn the word a disciple calls his master, which sounds like the old one and isn't it.

Rehearse the ceremony with Lan and Little Wu the evening before: ask how the words go, hear pour the tea with both hands and bow three times, learn the disciple's promise, and be told you'll say it well.

Kneel at Grain Rain in front of the family, the pickers and a screen from Seattle: offer the tea with both hands and the disciple's word, hear that from now on you are the apprentice, make your promise, and accept an invitation to Anhui in May.